BoxFest Detroit

About

BoxFest Detroit is an annual theatre festival that showcases and creates opportunities for women directors.

Supporting Metro Detroit Women Directors

BoxFest Detroit is an annual theatre festival that showcases local women directors. It has served and continues to function as a springboard for many women and their directing careers. Directors who have participated in past festivals have gone on to pursue graduate studies at highly competitive universities, become directors at professional theatres, and form their own successful theatre and production companies. BoxFest Detroit’s importance within Michigan’s theatre community was validated when Between The Lines honored the festival with the Critic’s Choice Award at the 2008 Wilde Awards.
Every year proceeds from the event are given to one director as a scholarship to help further her career, and the winner of the audience vote competition is given the opportunity to direct a show with Planet Ant Theatre’s Late Night Series.

Creating Opportunities

Creating Community

Women Directors

Awesome

OUR TEAM

The people and organizations who make BoxFest Detroit possible

Kelly Rossi

Executive Director

As Executive Director of the Festival, Kelly has been with BoxFest for the last eleven years. Kelly is the lead contact for playwrights submitting to the festival. Kelly is a local actor and playwright, and is also the Program Director for Y-Arts in Detroit.

Molly McMahon

Artistic Director

As the Artistic Director of the festival, Molly mentors and guides the festival directors through picking a play, rehearsals, tech, and performances. Molly is a local director and actor, as well as the Communications and Development Coordinator for Matrix Theatre Company.

Amanda Grace Ewing

Producer

Amanda is the newest member of the BoxFest team. An alumna of the festival, she manages BoxFest’s web presence and designs BFD’s marketing materials. Amanda is a local director/dramaturge, and the Program Coordinator for UMich’s Educational Theatre Company.

Planet Ant

Festival Sponsor

Planet Ant is home to Metro-Detroit’s longest running improv comedy show as well as some of the area’s best scripted productions. Planet Ant hosts BFD, and supports the work of the winning director by awarding her a slot in their Late Night Series.

Testimonials

A word from our directors

Because the play I directed was voted audience choice, I was fortunate to be given another opportunity to direct a One Act Play at Planet Ant Theatre as part of their late night series. This was another great experience that allowed me to grow tremendously as a director and be part of another wonderful theatre community at Planet Ant. I will always be extremely grateful to Boxfest Detroit for beginning my directing career and for all of their encouragement and support!

As a theatre practitioner of many trades, BoxFest Detroit is one of the most juicy endeavors I have entangled with. Not only has it given me an opportunity to see the plays I have written fully produced in a beautiful bare-boned rawness, I have had the privilege of honing my directorial skills in a fully collaborative environment. Additionally BoxFest Detroit is an asset to the community, bringing people together for art and celebrating the goodness of humanity.

The BoxFest Detroit scholarship took me to Greece to participate in a summer residency apprenticeship with One Year Lease Theatre Company. I was able to immerse myself in directing, acting and devising theatre in both Greek and English. I was able to see where theatre of the western world began, and discover the beautiful old world culture of mountain villagers. Now I devise and write bilingual scripts with Latino actors as well as direct and act when the opportunity arises; adventures of which BoxFest Detroit gave me the confidence to pursue.

I love BoxFest so much because it provided me, as a young black woman, the platform and opportunity to let my voice be heard and share my gift with my community. This experience gave me full creative control from beginning to end all while educating me and providing me the tools to be successful every step of the way.

BoxFest Detroit gave me the professional exposure I needed to verify and validate my directorial abilities. Coming in second to Kelly Komlen was just another boon to my confidence and validation. Having performed in a piece the year before, I saw how smoothly and uplifting the process worked. I knew I would be welcomed and encouraged to work with a superb support team.

Latest news

It’s official! We’re looking to raise some money to support BoxFest 2016. Follow the link for more information and to donate. What We Need We need $1000 to support the 2016 BFD Festival and support the continuation of BFD. Your contribution will allow more of the festival proceeds to go towards the director scholarships! Postcards[…]

Amanda again, here to announce the the schedule for BoxFest Detroit 2015! Woohoo! BFD 2015 is scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays August 21 – 29 and is hosted at Planet Ant Theatre. Admission prices are $10 for a day pass and $30 for a festival pass. Box 1 Clarity by Serena Cates (dir. Tara[…]

Hi everyone, Amanda here! I’m the newest addition to the BoxFest team – acting as a producer for this year’s festival. The directors are hard at work on their shows, picking plays and casting them, and so it’s getting to be that time of year where we need your support! Join us for one night[…]

Detroit actors – BoxFest Directors are looking for you! This year, auditions for BoxFest will be held on June 23rd at Planet Ant, 2357 Caniff Ave., Hamtramck, MI 48212 from 7-10PM. Parking is available in the library lot and on the street around the theatre. BoxFest Detroit is an organization that showcases and creates opportunities[…]

That’s right, folks! We’re back and BoxFest Detroit 2015 is happening! We’re really excited to be hosted by Planet Ant Theatre, Fridays and Saturdays, August 21 – 29. This is Molly McMahon, Artistic Director, excitedly typing away the good news. Last year we regrouped and with more resources, we’re looking forward to our 2015 festival.[…]

This is Molly McMahon, Artistic Director, here writing you today and believe me, I’ve been getting that question a lot lately. “What’s going on with BoxFest this year?” Since we put out our SOS call back in June we were inundated with emails/texts/communiqués from people. Some were from people wanting to participate in September’s Workshop.[…]

Hello BoxFest Detroit Friends and Family, This is Molly writing to you today. There really is no easy way to say this… BoxFest Detroit is in trouble. After growing and evolving over the last 12 years of BFD’s existence and being a part of southeastern Michigan’s vibrant theatre community, BoxFest Detroit is fighting for survival.[…]